Altri libri che potrebbero interessarti

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  Autoportrait

  Jesse Ball

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  Jesse Ball has produced fourteen acclaimed works of deeply empathetic absurdism in poetry and fiction. Now, he offers listeners his first memoir, one that showcases his "humane curiosity" (James Wood) and invites the listener into a raw and personal account of love, grief, and memory. Inspired by the memoir Édouard Levé put to paper shortly before his death, Autoportrait is an extraordinarily frank and intimate work from one of America's most brilliant young authors. 
   
   
   
  The subtle power of Ball's voice conjures the richness of everyday life. In each chapter, half-remembered moments are woven together with the joys and triumphs—and the mistakes and humiliations, too—that somehow tell us who we are, why we are here. Held at the same height as tragic accounts of illness or death are moments of startling beauty, banality, or humor: "I wake in the morning, I sit, I walk long distances. If there is somewhere to swim, I may swim. If I have a bicycle, I will ride it, especially to meet someone. There is no more preparing for me to do, other than preparing for death, and I do that by laughing. Not laughing at death, of course. Laughing at myself." 
   
    
   
  An extraordinary memoir that reminds us what is possible, Autoportrait will leave you feeling utterly invigorated, inspired, and a little afraid.

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  The Greatest Invention - A...

  Silvia Ferrara

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  The L where a tabletop meets the legs, the T between double doors, the D of an armchair's oval backrest—all around us is an alphabet in things. But how did these shapes make it onto the page, never mind form complex structures such as this sentence? In The Greatest Invention, Silvia Ferrara takes a profound look at how—and how many times—human beings have managed to produce the miracle of written language, traveling back and forth in time and all across the globe to Mesopotamia, Crete, China, Egypt, Central America, Easter Island, and beyond. 
   
   
   
  With Ferrara as our guide, we examine the enigmas of undeciphered scripts, including famous cases like the Phaistos Disk and the Voynich Manuscript; we touch the knotted, colored strings of the Inca quipu; we study the turtle shells and ox scapulae that bear the earliest Chinese inscriptions; we watch in awe as Sequoyah single-handedly invents a script for the Cherokee language; and we venture to the cutting edge of decipherment, in which high-powered laser scanners bring tears to an engineer's eye. 
   
   
   
  A code-cracking tour around the globe, The Greatest Invention chronicles a previously uncharted journey, one filled with past flashes of brilliance, present-day scientific research, and a faint, fleeting glimpse of writing's future.

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  Fixer-Upper - How to Repair...

  Jenny Schuetz

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  Much ink has been spilled in recent years talking about political divides and inequality in the United States. But these discussions too often miss one of the most important factors in the divisions among Americans: the fundamentally unequal nature of the nation's housing systems. 
   
   
   
  And this divide deepens other inequalities. Increasingly, important life outcomes—performance in school, employment, even life expectancy—are determined by where people live and the quality of homes they live in. 
   
   
   
  Public policies enacted by federal, state, and local governments helped create and reinforce the bad housing outcomes endured by too many people. Taxes, zoning, institutional discrimination, and the location and quality of schools, roads, public transit, and other public services are among the policies that created inequalities in the nation's housing patterns. 
   
   
   
  Fixer-Upper is the first book assessing how the broad set of local, state, and national housing policies affect people and communities. It proposes practical policy changes than can make stable, decent-quality housing more available and affordable for all Americans in all communities.

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  The United States of English -...

  Rosemarie Ostler

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  The story of how English became American—and how it became Southern, Bostonian, Californian, African American, Chicano, elite, working-class, urban, rural, and everything in between 
   
   
   
  By the time of the Revolution, the English that Americans spoke was recognizably different from the British variety. Americans added dozens of new words to the language, either borrowed from Native Americans (raccoon, persimmon, caucus) or created from repurposed English (backwoods, cane brake, salt lick). Americans had their own pronunciations (bath rhymed with hat, not hot) and their own spelling (honor, not honour), not to mention a host of new expressions that grew out of the American landscape and culture (blaze a trail, back track, pull up stakes). Americans even invented their own slang, like stiff as a ringbolt to mean drunk. American English has continued to grow and change ever since. 
   
   
   
  The United States of English tells the engrossing tale of how the American language evolved over four hundred years, explaining both how and why it changed and which parts of the "mother tongue" it preserved (I guess was heard in the British countryside long before it became a typical Americanism). Plentiful examples of the American vernacular, past and present, bring the language to life and make for an engaging as well as enlightening listen.

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  Tribes of the Americas - A...

  Days of History

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  Prepare to embark on a captivating journey through the rich and diverse heritage of the indigenous peoples of America!  
  This book offers an enlightening and comprehensive account of the unique histories, cultures, and contributions of Native Americans throughout time. 
  As you delve into this fascinating exploration, you'll discover the incredible stories and legacies that have shaped the world we know today. This book promises to captivate and educate, leaving you with a newfound appreciation for the resilience and cleverness of these incredible people. 
  Key features of the book include: 
  • An in-depth and immersive narrative that spans centuries: From the earliest indigenous societies to modern-day Native American communities, this book offers a sweeping account of the evolution of indigenous cultures, traditions, and ways of life. 
  • A celebration of the richness and diversity of Native American heritage: Through detailed accounts of customs, beliefs, and artistic expressions, our book showcases the unparalleled beauty and complexity of these ancient civilizations. 
  • Fascinating insights into the lives of famous Native American figures: Learn about the influential leaders, warriors, and visionaries who have left an indelible mark on history and helped shape the course of events in America and beyond. 
  Don't miss out on this enlightening and inspiring journey through the rich heritage and culture of indigenous peoples! Secure your copy today, and begin an unforgettable adventure that will transport you through time and unveil the incredible stories of the first Americans.

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  Romantic Demons - Victory Over...

  Moshood Atanda Bello

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  "Romantic Demons: Victory Over Incubus and Succubus" leads you to that shadowy world in which this line between myth and reality is blurred, and the fears of the ages come to life. Ever since the first whisper of their names, incubi and succubi have fascinated and terrified, sirenly entrapping their victims into a seductive, deadly embrace. The veil is pulled off in this book, exposing the dark truth about these nocturnal predators. 
  Look into the human mind, where true terror really resides. Analyze how sleep paralysis and suppressed desires result in nightmarish encounters with these demons. It is the depth of the psychology in these myths that makes them all the more real—and horrifying. And in a world infested with these demons, man has retaliated with each available weapon at his disposal. Learn about religious artifacts, charms, and modern practices designed to keep these nightmarish beings at bay. Discover the mix of superstition and practical wisdom developed to reclaim our nights. 
  As the last curtain falls, reflect on the strength these myths still hold. Incubi and succubi are not just relics of those times but living testaments to humanity's darkest fears and desires. Celebrate that resilient, ingenious human spirit, which turned terror into triumph and ancient dread into a testament of survival. 
  "Romantic Demons: Victory Over Incubus and Succubus" is an investigation, an invitation into a world where the ancient crashes into the modern. It isn't a light passage through darkness, with high stakes and profound revelations. Will you dare to uncover the truth? 
   

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